Awaze Tibs (Ethiopian Spiced Beef Stir-Fry) Recipe
Awaze Tibs is a flavorful and spicy Ethiopian beef dish featuring tender ribeye pieces sautéed with traditional berbere spice blend, niter kibbeh, and fresh aromatics. This quick stovetop recipe delivers a rich, savory taste perfect for serving with Ethiopian injera, pita, or rice for a satisfying meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Ethiopian
Ingredients
Scale
Beef and Seasoning
- 2 pounds beef, chopped into bite-sized pieces (preferably ribeye or lamb)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Cooking Fats
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
- 1 tablespoon niter kibbeh (Ethiopian spiced clarified butter)
Aromatics and Spices
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 1–2 spicy chilies, chopped (jalapeno recommended)
- 1 tablespoon chopped ginger
- 3–4 cloves garlic, chopped
- 2 tablespoons berbere spice blend (adjust to taste)
Tomato Base
- 1 cup tomato sauce (use 2 cups for a saucier dish or substitute with beef stock)
- 1 tomato, chopped
For Serving
- Injera or warmed pita bread, or rice if desired
Instructions
- Season Beef: Season the chopped beef pieces evenly with salt and pepper to enhance their natural flavors.
- Sear Beef: Heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a large pan over medium heat. In batches, add the beef and cook for 2-3 minutes per side until nicely browned. Remove the browned beef and keep it aside in a bowl.
- Prepare Pan: Add the remaining tablespoon of oil along with the niter kibbeh to the same pan and heat gently to infuse the flavors.
- Sauté Onions and Chilies: Add the chopped onion and spicy chilies to the pan. Cook for about 5 minutes until the onions become soft and translucent.
- Add Aromatics and Spices: Stir in the chopped garlic, ginger, and berbere spice blend. Cook for 1 minute while stirring constantly to release their fragrance and flavors.
- Add Tomato Base: Pour in the tomato sauce and add the chopped fresh tomato. Allow the mixture to simmer gently for 5 minutes to meld the flavors.
- Simmer Beef: Return the browned beef to the pan, stir to coat with the sauce, then cover and simmer for about 10 minutes until the beef is cooked through and tender.
- Serve: Serve the Awaze Tibs hot accompanied by traditional Ethiopian injera, or alternatively with warmed pita bread or rice as preferred.
Notes
- Niter kibbeh is a spiced clarified butter essential for authentic Ethiopian flavor; can be substituted with regular clarified butter or ghee if unavailable.
- Adjust the quantity of berbere spice and chilies to control the heat level according to your preference.
- Using ribeye gives the dish a tender, juicy texture, but lamb or other beef cuts can also be used.
- For a saucier version, increase the tomato sauce quantity to 2 cups or substitute with beef stock.
- Be sure to brown the beef well in batches to develop deeper flavor through caramelization.
Keywords: Awaze Tibs, Ethiopian beef tibs, Ethiopian cuisine, berbere spice beef, niter kibbeh recipe, spicy beef stir-fry, injera accompaniment